Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time on Sunday to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup and deny Lionel Messi a second straight title.
Spain controlled the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, but struggled to find the breakthrough.
Lionel Messi and Argentina failed to register a shot on target and barely kept possession as Spain dominated the match.
Argentina goalkeeper Emi MartÃnez made several outstanding saves to keep his side in the contest. However, Spain finally found the winner 39 seconds into the second half of extra time.
Pedro Porro floated a cross to the back post. Nico Williams beat Nahuel Molina in the air and headed the ball across goal. MartÃnez had already committed himself, leaving Ferran Torres to fire home from eight yards in the 106th minute for a famous 1-0 victory.
“I just saw the ball coming to me and I just shot with the power of all the Spanish people,” Torres said after the match.
Messi ends tournament in defeat
Meanwhile, the result could mark the end of Messi’s World Cup career. The 39-year-old captain rarely influenced the game as Spain kept him quiet throughout the final after an outstanding tournament.
Spain extended their unbeaten run to 38 matches over more than two years. The reigning European champions also won their first World Cup since Andrés Iniesta’s extra-time goal secured the 2010 title against the Netherlands.
Argentina lost their fourth World Cup final in seven appearances. They also missed the chance to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to defend the World Cup.
Spain dominate from start to finish
Furthermore, Spain backed up their dominance with the numbers. They finished with 20 shots, including 12 on target, and recorded 31 touches inside Argentina’s penalty area.
Argentina, who scored 19 goals in seven matches before the final, managed only two shots. Neither tested the Spanish goalkeeper, while the South Americans entered the penalty area just eight times.
In response, thousands of Argentina supporters continued to cheer their team after the final whistle.
Fans had followed La Albiceleste throughout the tournament and filled sections of MetLife Stadium despite the heartbreaking defeat.
External links
Yahoo Sports World Cup coverage
Yahoo Sports match report
FIFA World Cup
